Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001 — 2011)

Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001–2011) is an American police procedural drama TV series based in New York City and produced by Dick Wolf and René Balcer. It first aired on September 30, 2001, as the third installment of Wolf’s successful Law & Order franchise. The show centers around The NYPD Manhattan ‘Major Case Squad’, a team of detectives tasked with solving high-profile cases, including murder, kidnappings, and major robberies. These cases often involve VIPs, local government officials and employees, the financial industry, and the art world. Criminal Intent stands out in the franchise for its focus on the criminals’ motives and actions, which are shown parallel to the investigation through scenes from their lives. Viewers are left to piece together clues alongside the investigators as each episode features a suspenseful cold open depicting the victim and suspects leading up to the crime.

Some episodes of the show reveal the offender at the beginning, but withhold important details, creating a puzzle for the detectives to solve. This serves as the main conflict and resolution of the episode, as they work to uncover the truth and bring the perpetrator to justice. However, there are also cases where either conviction seems impossible or an acquittal highlights the limitations of criminal prosecution. Unlike other Law & Order series, Criminal Intent episodes typically end with a confession rather than going to trial. Each crime has its own unique circumstances and motivations, with perpetrators ranging from obvious suspects to unexpected individuals. In New York City, these complex and serious cases are handled by the Major Case Squad, a team of highly skilled first-grade detectives. These are their stories.